Music fans poured through the gates at Friday’s start of the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, staking out spots to catch performances by The Beach Boys, Steel Pulse and Irma Thomas, who is performing a tribute to gospel great Mahalia Jackson.

The festival known simply as Jazz Fest spans two weekends, Friday through Sunday and May 3-6. This year’s lineup includes mostly Louisiana acts accented with national headliners such as Bruce Springsteen, Dr. John, Bon Iver, the Beach Boys, the Eagles, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, Cee Lo Green, Ne-Yo, Bruce Springsteen and Jimmy Buffett.

Though Jazz Fest has boomed in diversity and popularity in its 40-plus year history, Cajun fiddler and singer Michael Doucet says it’s still the best festival for homegrown Louisiana music like his.